Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-02-16
GRN. SIMON GlMRR0N.
The Famous Old Political
Leader Interviewed.
On Parties Past, Present and
Future "A Veterans
Opinions.
He says shai . Better Forssgz Pslisy
h needed, and thas fhs cOunsry
Wants New Markets
From ths Bmton Herald. /

from TIE bM1o1 nefalo-
EKw YcKk. Jan z8.-Ihs coed ship
/ Trinidad stood out 10 sea this afternoon
at 3 O'Clock. Il was heading for the
| BeFm1das. On board there vas larse
and interesting company bound fos the
land Of flowers. many Of them 10 search
Of heaith, but still more IN search Of
/ pleasure. Chisf among the e0nspicuOus
| oues vas General Simon Cameron, the
veteran priafer. Politician, statesman
and 6na0cieE. He goes 20 seak warmer
weaaher for comfort, rather than for tbs
general bsiteFment Of bis health. He 10
The central figure Of large passenger
liss, and will enjoy the merry roend Of
shipboard talk as well - the youngest
Of them. As the see Of 50 he 10 still
hale and hearty. with mental and
physieal grasp on life that Il almost
/ phen0menal, answering TO The fullest
L0nefellcw's description Of an cid bat
healthy man: Brown IS berry vas
be, like an oak thas Il covered With
anowf1akee." His wealth Of white hair
and dark. piercing eyes, strongly lined
face and decisive eo1ntananes remind
oue Of Andrew Jackson, whose friend
be vas in the Palmiest days Old Kick
ory knew.
| an HutuH 70 tuo Oott4uon44 Sale
/ be, sfoF pleas are a. mueh - for healkh.
The only discomfort 81 any kind have
/ is q Rheumatic trouble, which strikes
me occasionally IN the back, and IL the
result Of g fall had soms four years
since. I thought perhaps . trip 70 9
warmer climate would free me from
this. my only ailmeut. This Is the sole
reason for my journey, except desire
70 see the tropics and enjoy change
| from my quiet life tn Pennsylvania and
attention 20 ny business Affairs"
TEE OLD GKEERkL's APPEARANCE
And manner spoke Of bis good physical
condition, and the two hours spent With
him fully demonstrated the brightness
Of his intelIsct, and the wonderful hold
be has, not only upon public matters,
bat on eli worldly affairs with which
be deals. Ysu were 90 long In public
life, General" suggested, that sop
pose you nos look back npon IL as q SORT
Of Vastly Fair, Of which you we're only
a part"
. Not at ALL replied the veteran. al
am fond Of public life. ! take as much
interest in the lights and shades today
a. ever did. Although have given
up ell active participation in political af
fairs, yet have not lost particle Of NY
interest in public concerns, and watch
the drift Of political life With as much
interest as ever. By the way, Ne are In
the u.idst Of q negative era 10 our ma
tional progress that is hardly interest
ing. These are the days when thsre are
no momentous, no great questions q
cali out the best energies of thl
men Who deal in our public sffairs. Al
nations pass throuQh sentimental, tragic
and negative shines. Our sentimental
era came With the struggle aQainsI
elavsry, which brought the tragic IN thu
shape Of war; these two combined
brought out the best power Of leading
men, and they followed so closely apoE
saeh other that each aided in the devsl
oPment Of thought upon our national
necessities. The settlemet of war ques
tions after peace was declared KEEP
strong men 10 the front or gave ogdin
airy men an opportunity to show to ths
best advantages; bnt nov there are NJ
great questions before the country, and
there IL entirely too much disposition
to tails Of lack Of brains and assert.
i've power among public men. IL Il
the fashion OF old men, especially, 4
talk Of the good old DAYS. No day il
our national history was ever bFoade
or brighter than the present, and II al
emergency called for display of intel
lectual and physical power, We are per
haps as well prepared today IS ever II
oar history"
"You have had many years. expert
enos In public life-how long is it?'
J "For seventy years ! have watched
the shifting tides of our national life
for began early. | was q printer OF
the Congressional Globe with Gales 4
Seaton Ia 1890, and vent immediately
from their employ to edit the leading
Democratic newspaper ct Harrisburg
had, two years before that. edited ahs
Doylestewn Democrat, THIS was wheu
James Monroe vas President. In look
ing over these intervening years anf
that have seen, and oftentimes been I
part Of the successes and defeats O
every political party that has lived II
this country 10 any parposs. remem
Der the contest between the FederalistI
and Democrats. and early took my DO
sition with the DemocF alto PARTY, be
oause IL was then liberal in It's views
broad in lie craftsmanship, and cham
pioned the
cAusE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE.
The AFistooratic FedeIAl party VA
succeeded By the Wigs, who we're fall,
as conservative and almost as high Il
tone. They succeeded once or twic'
only by accident, a. that party neve
possessed the elements Of popular favor
The Democratic party lived longer OF
Successful achievements than any other
for the reason that Il stood closer 10 th,
people. Bnt during the frst santimsn
tal combat With slavery IL dFifted int
Tie championship Of that course Of oui
national life, and thus dFiftcd avail
from the general sentiment, until 10 VA
destroyed in the vortex Of civil strife
The Republican party vas born Of The
Issue for human rights which the Dem
oerafto party denisd-Fieht for %,
whites ~ we'll a. the blacks. Az Ions
a. Il held carefully and earnestly 70 tina
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